he is gone

he is gone—a cloud of light
has received him from our sight;
high in heav’n, where eye of men
follows not, nor angels’ ken;
through the veils of time and space,
passed into the holiest place;
all the toil, the sorrow done,
all the battle fought and won.

he is gone—and we remain
in this world of sin and pain:
in the void which he has left
on this earth, of him bereft.
we have still his work to do,
we can still his path pursue;
seek him both in friend and foe,
in ourselves his image show.

he is gone—we heard him say,
“good that i should go away,”
gone is that dear form and face,
but not gone his present grace;
though himself no more we see,
comfortless we cannot be:
no, his spirit still is ours,
quickening, freshening all ours powers.

he is gone—towards their goal
world and church must onward roll;
far behind we leave the past;
forward are our glances cast:
still his words before us range
through the ages as they change:
wheresoe’er the truth shall lead,
he will give whate’er we need.

he is gone—but we once more
shall behold him as before;
in the heaven of heavens the same,
as on earth he went and came;
in the many mansions there,
place for us he will prepare;
in that world unseen, unknown,
he and we shall yet be one.

he is gone—but not in vain,
wait until he comes again:
he is risen, he is not here,
far above this earthly sphere;
evermore in heart and mind
there our peace in him we find:
to our own eternal friend,
thitherward let us ascend.